should i be concerned? (PICS INCLUDED)

[mjf6866]

installed a Stack Performance fender pull CAI (uses an S&B open ended reverse cone filter with a pre-filter sock) on my 09 Challenger this past spring....

today, I took the filter off to check things over after about 2000 miles and shined a flash light up in t he tube and saw what looked like a light coating of dust in spots(maybe it was the light just catching it right) so I took a pic with my phone and you can see it, but not as pronounced. the bottom of the tube was wiped with my fingers so you have to look up above the intake air temp sensor to see what I mean...

anything I should be worried about?

edit...trying to figure out how to post pictures...

edit 2...nevermind...i see that you have to link to a web page so this post is a waste...

 

[ClutchDisc]

You can post pictures by using the options at the top. 4 over from the left. You can post from Photobucket and have the picture actually in the post. Hope this helps.

 

[Chris142]

If you wipe inside the tube does your finger get dirty?

 

[229]

Engine is dusted. Did you get more power than stock?

 

[scurvy]

Originally Posted By: mjf6866
the bottom of the tube was wiped with my fingers so you have to look up above the intake air temp sensor to see what I mean...

anything I should be worried about?


If your fingers got dirty in the process of wiping the inside of the tube, then yes, you have defeated the excellent stock filtration system and have been sending abrasive grit into your engine for the past 2000 miles.

I would put the stock airbox and all associated plumbing back in place, change the oil, drive more & worry less.

 

[mjf6866]

the bottom part that i wiped didnt really show anything on my fingers, but i will try to reach up a little higher after work today and see.

here are a few pics of what i'm referring to:

 

[Jim Allen]

What's your environment where you live? Is it a dirty, dusty area? Or have you recently gone thru such an area?

Forgive the obvious question, but was the filter oiled prior to installation (by you or S&B)? A non-oiled OCG filter is about 40% efficient.

Visible dust you can feel is not good but before condemning the filter system itself, double/triple check the filter sealing and all the connections (tight clamps, etc.) . Look for tears/holes/thin spots in the element. Look carefully!

It's unlikely that even a OCG (Oiled Cotton Gauze) filter would let a tremendous amount of dirt thru in a short period of time... unless you ran the Paris-Dakar Rally or something (hence the question about environment). The OCG filters are of average efficiency, meaning about 93-97% on fine dust (97-99 on coarse) so any dust buildup, if it showed at all, would be very gradual and take a very long time to build up. That buildup could go faster in dusty conditions.

All the clues here lead me to believe that if you have dust ingress in large amounts, it's more likely due to a sealing issue that any big issue with filtration (e.g. OCG vs stock). The other possibility is that when you installed the system, you inadvertently got dirt into the system and it hung around.

My advice is to thoroughly clean the intake tube. Make double sure all your connections are tight. Be conscious of the work environment so you don't put the dirt in there yourself (ask any heavy equipment tech how important that is). Inspect the filter element itself for defects. Then put a smear (just a light smear) of heavy grease into the intake tract, just downstream of the filter. Put it into what you think would be a low velocity area, e.g. where some dust might fall out of the airflow. Run a few thousand miles and then check that greasy spot. If it's picked up a lot of dust, or not, then you'll have an answer other than just tossing your (presumably expensive) new intake system based on WAGs.

 

[mjf6866]

ok, i was able to reach up in there and wipe around with my fingers...no noticeable dirt on my hands. i'm probably over reacting. i never looked at the stock tube and stock filter to really compare. i freak out pretty easily when it comes to any possibility of me ruining my car.

 

[mjf6866]

I also went as far as to cut a corner off a white paper towel and put that on the end of my finger and swab as much of the inside of the tube as I could and it came out clean. The flash light and flash on my camera must catch every little priece of ok lint particles.

I truly am sick in the head.

 

[229]

What does the CAI do for you?

 

[SteveSRT8]

^^^Not much.

The 5.7 has a pretty good intake already on it. The best upgrade IMO is the SRT 6.1 version which is a bolt in mod and is good for a few hp.

This CAI and most others are a bit of noise and perhaps some throttle response, but really do very little.

Hint: Diablosport tuner! Completely transforms your car!

 

[Jim Allen]

Originally Posted By: mjf6866
I also went as far as to cut a corner off a white paper towel and put that on the end of my finger and swab as much of the inside of the tube as I could and it came out clean. The flash light and flash on my camera must catch every little priece of ok lint particles.

I truly am sick in the head.


All us here are in one way or anther. It's called BITOG-itis (aka OCD). Welcome to the club.

 

[mjf6866]

Steve, you would be surprised....data logging i've been able to see a drastic drop in the intake air temps with this fender pull that i'm running and it doesnt suck in as much hot air at stand still. when i'm moving down the road, the temps decrease much quicker than with the stock airbox, especially since i have the SRT chin spoiler on my R/T without the brake duct. fresh air blows almost directly on the filter. i'm a believer in the fender pull intakes...not so much the "cold air" intakes that have the element opened up under the hood, or short ram setups.

and i do have the predator with a custom tune installed

along with:
180 tstat
hopnot suspension kit
hopnot engine torque strut
drag radials for track days
hurst shifter

she sure is fun!

 

[mjf6866]

another update to my madness....

i took the entire tube off from the throttle body and ran my fingers all through the top part as well with no signs of dirt so i was indeed over reacting.

the way the light hits the surface gives the wrong impression i guess.

 

[kkreit01]

^ Good deal. Try a white paper towel also. I did this on my dad's 3.0 Duratec with a filthy K&N that had not been cleaned in 45k miles. The paper towel came back spotless. I cleaned and re-oiled the filter and stuck it back in. I had a true CAI on a 2nd gen Neon. The filter was about 12-13" off the ground. Good job using the pre-filter sock. Those are a necessity on a true CAI.

 

[Jarlaxle]

Originally Posted By: SteveSRT8
^^^Not much.

The 5.7 has a pretty good intake already on it. The best upgrade IMO is the SRT 6.1 version which is a bolt in mod and is good for a few hp.

This CAI and most others are a bit of noise and perhaps some throttle response, but really do very little.

Hint: Diablosport tuner! Completely transforms your car!


Mopar Action replaced the stock intake on their Magnum SRT8 with an aftermarket CAI and the car went faster at the drags. (Note: car already had a Diaablosport Predator.)